Despite the wheels of commerce speeding up all around us, there are those who truly believe that it is better to give than to receive.

Thomas Chung and Josephine Ng are among them. Instead of buying gifts for relatives and friends, they are now rushing around preparing presents for people they don't even know and may never see.

As officials of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), they are raising money for needy kids in China. Along with colleagues and hundreds of volunteers, they have placed donation boxes and set up sales stands with greeting cards and merchandise in hotels, shopping complexes and office buildings. They have also opened a new showroom in UNICEF's Beijing office compound selling Christmas gifts.

"All proceeds will be used for charity projects here in China," explained Chung. "SARS has greatly affected our volunteer recruitment and fund raising. We are trying to make up the gap." Last year UNICEF spent more than US$10 million to improve children's health and nutrition, with education, water and environmental sanitation projects.

Last week Beijing United Family Hospital and clinics lit up its Christmas tree, hoping to attract more people to get involved in its toy and clothing drive.

The Canadian embassy is preparing another shipment of clothes collected for poor communities in Qinghai Province.

Some 99 artists have donated their best works to support the first Annual Christmas Charity Auction on December 13th.

Most of the proceeds will go to the Beijing Youth Development Foundation and the Beijing Donation Center for Project Hope, which helps underprivileged children attend school.

Those dependent on help from others are showing themselves willing to give something back in return. Disabled youngsters cared for by Hui Ling, a non-profit community-based organization, are busy making Christmas gifts and cards and rehearsing a Christmas dance.

Manager Li Qian explained: "It is our way of showing our gratefulness for those who support and help us. By making Christmas cards and gifts, we try to support ourselves instead of depending on donations.

"I am happy that people like the shawls I knitted." Jingjing, a student of the school, excitedly told me. "I have already knitted three shawls. If you know somebody who likes my scarf, tell me, and I will knit for them."

(Beijing Weekend December 12, 2003)